33: Kill him when he is ill and beat the dog when it is down!

Lu Jiuyuan rose from the bamboo chair and took the oil-paper package from Lu Xiaofeng’s hand.

He placed it on the table and opened it directly.

“He delivered himself to my door, bringing murderous intent. His skill was inferior, so he died cleanly.”

“Fire-roasted buns from Runming Tower? You have some conscience. Xue'er, pack the essentials; we’ll leave after we eat.”

Shangguan Xueer nodded, already starting to pack. She didn't have much, just needed to secure her money and pack two changes of clothes.

Lu Xiaofeng sighed, his expression turning grave: “I originally came to see how badly Ye Gucheng had injured you, and to tell you some news. Now it seems your troubles extend far beyond just Ye Gucheng.”

He glanced at Tang Tianyi’s corpse outside the door:

“The Tang Sect will never let this go. Once news of Tang Tianyi’s death reaches them, the Tang Family will likely be in turmoil for a while.”

“When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we cover it with earth. The only one who truly cares is the Old Master Tang; the younger generation below may not be willing to risk their lives to avenge a dead man.

With Tang Tianyi dead, they will have more resources to divide.

Family power might not be as fierce as the Tianqin Sect.” Lu Jiuyuan said indifferently, finishing the fire-roasted bun in his mouth: “Tell me your news.”

Lu Xiaofeng looked at him, a mix of worry and helplessness, and said in a low voice: “News of Ye Gucheng’s injury has spread completely.

Honest Monk himself said it.”

Lu Jiuyuan’s eyes flickered: “Oh? What did he say?”

“He said that half a month ago, the Lord of Baiyun City visited Sword Devil at night, and after an exchange, he was hit by a ‘Yamas Summons’ needle!

Though not fatal, it is a certainty that the Sword Immortal is injured!”

Lu Xiaofeng stared intently at Lu Jiuyuan, “Old Nine, Honest Monk never lies. Ye Gucheng, how badly did that needle of yours injure him?”

Lu Jiuyuan was silent for a moment, seemingly recalling that heart-stopping instant.

“Half his life, I’d say! If he seeks a good doctor in time and recuperates quietly, he still has a chance to live. But if he engages in another major battle, he will surely die!”

Lu Xiaofeng’s heart tightened: “Which means Honest Monk’s words were not false! Ye Gucheng is indeed injured! And the injury is in a vital part of his heart!”

His face turned extremely grim, “No wonder… no wonder the capital has been turned upside down!”

“Turned upside down?” Lu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow.

“Old Du from the South of the City placed a heavy bet on Ye Gucheng to win.

Now that news of Ye Gucheng’s injury has spread, Ximen Chuixue’s odds have plummeted.

Old Du is desperate. From when the news leaked yesterday until now, he has already sent people to assassinate over thirty black-market leaders and wealthy merchants in the capital who bet on Ximen Chuixue to win!

Li Yanbei was almost shot into a hedgehog this morning; I just happened to pass by and saved him.”

Lu Xiaofeng spoke very quickly, “Li Yanbei bet his entire fortune on Ximen Chuixue. He is now Du Tongxuan’s number one target!

The entire underground gambling scene in the capital has turned into a bloody slaughterhouse!”

“Men die for wealth, birds die for food. The underworld has always been like this.”

Lu Jiuyuan sneered, seemingly unsurprised by this bloody storm, but more concerned about another matter: “What about Ximen Chuixue? Do you know where he is?”

Lu Xiaofeng shook his head: “I don’t know. He has been in hiding for a month, isolating himself to adjust his state for the decisive battle with Ye Gucheng.

He doesn't want to be affected by the outside world. If he finds out you fought his battle for him… with his personality, he’d be furious and certainly wouldn't let you off the hook!”

“Oh? Furious? That’s even better!

Ever since he found out I use needles, he hasn’t given me a single kind look.

Being able to infuriate that bastard makes me feel even more comfortable! It’s exhilarating!”

“In your current state, can you still withstand a sword strike from Ximen Chuixue?”

Lu Xiaofeng mercilessly exposed the reality, “That sword strike from Ye Gucheng, plus forcibly attacking and killing Tang Tianyi just now, your injuries, which you’ve been nursing for days, are probably worse now!

Forget Ximen Chuixue, if a few more decent assassins from the Tang Sect came, you might not even be able to stand and speak!”

“Cough cough…” Lu Jiuyuan choked on the fire-roasted bun and coughed violently, a trace of fresh red seeping from the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away casually.

“Lu Xiaoji, stop being such a jinx.

I won’t die! If Ye Gucheng’s Celestial Flight couldn't kill me, what are these minor injuries?”

He paused, looking at Shangguan Xueer, who was packing, and his voice softened a few shades:

“I just need to find a stable place to catch my breath, and I’ll still have the strength to fight. I’m only injured, not dead!”

“A stable place?” Lu Xiaofeng looked around the small courtyard, which was contaminated with poison,

“We definitely can’t stay here. The capital is now a mix of Dragons and snakes. Besides the Tang Sect, those who want to kill you probably include gamblers who bet on Ye Gucheng to win.

Even… someone like Du Tongxuan might kick you when you’re down, either to curry favor with the Tang Sect or for other motives.”

“Where do you want to go?” Lu Xiaofeng asked, “I do have a few relatively quiet safe houses in the capital.”

Lu Jiuyuan did not answer immediately. He slowly finished the remaining fire-roasted bun: “To Li Yanbei’s place.”

“Li Yanbei?” Lu Xiaofeng nodded, “His place truly is a good spot!”

“He is your closest friend, and he owes you his life. If I go there, he will surely entertain me well.”

“In terms of safety, it’s always better than us blindly searching for a place.

He has many subordinates and strict defenses. It won’t be easy for Tang Sect members to sneak in and poison us quietly.”

Shangguan Xueer had already packed a small bundle and stood by, smiling as she said: “Lu Xiaojian, Lu Xiaoji, I’m ready.”

“Miss Xue'er has become less spirited and much quieter!” Lu Xiaofeng said with a smile, looking at Shangguan Xueer.

“Pfft, Lu Xiaoji, don’t talk nonsense. How was I ever spirited! I was just young back then!”

Shangguan Xueer's face flushed. She had grown up a lot and was going to be a virtuous wife and loving mother in the future, how could she still be so boisterous?

Twenty-some people sat in a small room, their faces flushed. Every one of them was involved in the underworld; not many were good people.

There were thugs from brothels who forced good women into prostitution, and loan shark bosses.

There were Dart Head (escort leaders) who transported goods, and shopkeepers who embezzled public funds from banks… They came from all walks of life and all had a bit of a reputation.

But they all shared one common characteristic: in the decisive battle on the night of the full moon, they had bet on the Lord of Baiyun City to win!

“Brothers, we’ve been royally screwed this time. If I don’t vent this anger, I’ll choke to death.”

“Boss Li, how much did you bet?”

“Nine thousand taels! My coffin money is all in there!”

“I bet eight thousand taels!”

“I bet three thousand taels!”

“I bet five thousand taels!”

...“That beast Sword Devil, everyone knows he’s Ximen Chuixue’s closest friend, but I never expected him to use such a despicable method to help him.

Luring Ye Gucheng over, fighting to a mutual defeat, so Ximen Chuixue wins easily—how can we tolerate this?”

“It’s said someone saw Lu Xiaofeng eating with Li Yanbei!”

“Lu Xiaofeng and Lu Jiuyuan are closest friends…”

“Li Yanbei bet six hundred thousand taels of silver on Ximen Chuixue to win…”

“Case closed! Absolutely right, it must be these bastards colluding to set up a scam and fleece us.

Ximen Chuixue challenges, Li Yanbei opens the betting, Lu Jiuyuan severely injures the opponent, Lu Xiaofeng secretly protects him!

By then, Ximen Chuixue gets fame, Li Yanbei gets Old Du’s territory, Lu Xiaofeng and Lu Jiuyuan get money… All the benefits go to them!

We’re bleeding and getting cut up in the back and still being fed shit! I can’t take it anymore! Not a single bit!”

The twenty-odd people spoke one after another, growing clearer and clearer, more and more obvious, and the more they discussed, the more reasonable it seemed.

Bang! Someone slammed the table and roared:

“Damn it! They cheated me out of my money! Give me back my hard-earned money!”

“Lu Jiuyuan was severely wounded by the Lord of Baiyun City and is now gravely injured…!”

“Beat a drowning dog! Get rid of him!”

“First kill Lu Jiuyuan, then kill Li Yanbei! Those with money contribute money, those with people contribute people, those with strength contribute strength!

Our plan will be called ‘Beating a Drowning Dog’!

Whether we can beat the dog and eat its meat, whether we can keep our Family fortunes, whether we can save our lives, depends on the determination of everyone present!”

“Let’s do it! I have three crossbows and five strong bows hidden!”

“Let’s do it! I have three strong bows and three hundred arrows!”

“I have ten crossbows and two hundred crossbow bolts! I’ll take them all out!”

“I have…”

“I have…”

“All or nothing!”

“Boss Li, what do you say we do?”

“I received news that one of the Tang Family’s Three Heroes, Tang Tianyi, has already gone to seek revenge on Sword Devil.

As the saying goes, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Although Tang Tianyi is formidable, he may not succeed.

But even if he doesn’t, Sword Devil, fighting with severe injuries, will definitely not come out unscathed.

Strike while he’s down, beat a drowning dog! I think now is our best opportunity!

Gather our men, prepare strong bows and powerful crossbows, and head straight to his house! Let’s get him!”

“Good!”